Christopher’s Deli partners with Stanfield, Peters to hand out 250 free meals to seniors

MOUNT HOLLY – Christopher’s Deli & Catering will be giving out 250 free meals to seniors amid food insecurity struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mount Holly deli is partnering with the 8th Legislative District Office of Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield and Assemblyman Ryan Peters to perform outreach, sign seniors up and hand out the meals.

“Local seniors have supported our business for many years. We’re blessed to be in a position to give back to the people that make our community great in this time of need,” said owners Chris Yiallourides and Ted Kanakaris.

The meal will be a roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes, string beans, brown gravy on the side and a dinner roll with butter and will be available for pickup between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Stanfield and Peters will be on hand with masks and gloves to place the meals in seniors’ trunks. Those aged 60 and older are eligible for a free meal.

When Yiallourides and Kanakaris got the idea to hand out meals, they knew the perfect person to call to help set up the pickup service. Yiallourides knew Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield from her time as Burlington County Sheriff as not only a patron of his deli, but the long-time organizer of the Burlington County Senior Expo.

“I was completely floored when Chris reached out with this idea,” Stanfield said. “He’s always been such a big-hearted small-business owner, but what he’s doing for his community is going above and behind.”

“I also want to thank Chief Richard Spitler and the Mount Holly Police Department for helping us all organize this in a safe and responsible way,” she continued.

The police department will have officers on hand to direct seniors to the pickup location and make sure meals are dropped off in trunks in a safe manner. They will also have a sign that tells seniors to “Stay In Your Cars.”

“The last month has been heartbreaking and stressful for so many people, but it has also shown us what our community is really made of. I couldn’t be more proud of Christopher’s Deli, the Mount Holly Police and the people all throughout our state who wake up everyday and choose to be part of the solution,” Peters said.

Meals will be handed out in the Mount Holly Police Department complex parking lot on Park Drive. Residents should turn off of Rancocas Road onto Park Drive and follow signs to the lot. They will then be directed to exit on Washington Street.

To sign up to pick up a meal, please visit https://volunteersignup.org/9KTXA. Pickup will take place in 15-minute windows, with 15 spots available for each window. Cars will be allowed up to two meals each. Please place the number of meals – one or two – next to your first name on the sign up sheet. Once all meals are accounted for, signup will be closed. Cars should pull up, roll down their window and state their name so they can be marked off the list. Someone will then place the meal in your trunk.

Pickup is the preferred method of distributing the meals. If you cannot pick up the meal, you can have a family member pick it up for you. If you absolutely cannot pick up your meal, there are 15 spots available for curbside delivery. Sign up for delivery and someone from Stanfield and Peters’ 8th District office will call you to schedule a dropoff time and location. Please reserve the delivery method for those who need it.

If you are having trouble accessing the signup sheet, you can call the 8th Legislative District Office at 609-667-7360 or email aswstanfield@njleg.org.